Page 21 of Take Me Please, Cowboy
“He’s never his best when he drinks, no.But at least he’s not angry when he drinks.He doesn’t get violent.He’s just… you know, Rye, you know how he gets.”
“Pitiful.”
She sighed again.“I don’t like that word.”
“It’s true.”
“Yes, he can be exhausting, but he isn’t your problem.You didn’t marry him.He’s your dad, not your husband.I love him and I will take care of him—”
“And who takes care of you, Mom?”
“Why you do, Rye.”She laughed, the sound full of anguish instead of humor.“You always have.”
“That’s my job.”
“No, sweetheart, it’s not your job.It’s never been your job.You should be independent.You should be dating and falling in love, starting a family, not worrying about all of us.I hate that you have so little freedom, and even less spare time—”
“What would I do with free time, Mom?Play video games?Shoot pool?I don’t think so.”He sat up, swung his legs to the floor.“I’m happy with my life.I love you all.I’m not complaining.”
“No, you never have, but that doesn’t mean it’s not stressful.There’s a lot of pressure on you, and I can’t help wishing you could be like the other cowboys.I wish you could have that freedom.I’d love for you to be carefree, not always calling home, not always rushing home, not always giving up all your money.”
“You’re my family.You come first.End of story.”
She drew a low, unsteady breath.“What would I do without you?”she whispered.“I don’t think I would have been able to handle all of this without you.”
“That’s not true.You’re strong, Mom, and you’ve taught me to be strong.It’s all good.Now, don’t get all weepy.Dad doesn’t like to see you sad.He’ll feel guilty and today won’t be any better than yesterday.”
“You’re right.”She took a bigger breath, a steadying breath.“You have such a good head on your shoulders, Rye.You make me so proud.”
“Thank you, Mom.Now, I’ll be home tomorrow.If I’m in the finals, it’ll be late.If I’m not, well, you’ll see me early afternoon.”
“I’d rather you place in the money.”
“Me, too, and hopefully with big money.”
“Stay safe.”
“I try my best.”
“Don’t need both of my sons in wheelchairs!”she laughed, trying to make it a joke.
“That’s not going to happen.”
*
Instead of goingto the morning parade in Marietta, Ansley woke early, had coffee, and got to work.It was a gorgeous morning, and although it’d be quite warm later, it was perfect right now.The sky was blue, and a fragrant breeze rustled through the trees, scenting the air moving through the loft.
Montana had its charms.She focused on her canvas with the dark blue Yellowstone River snaking through the valley floor.She’d taken photos of the scene and had those clipped to the side of the easel for reference.But the photos didn’t do the stunning landscape justice.It was more powerful on a larger canvas with the mountains looming large, and the river gleaming against a backdrop of golden alfalfa fields.
She took a fine brush to touch up the split-log fence in the distance.She was lucky the Bridger Mountains sold to the Sterbas, because these big canvases were expensive, and they took so much longer than the little ones, but she was falling in love with the bigger pieces.They challenged her and intimidated her, but it was exciting to do something new and hard and when it was finished she felt… amazing.Invincible.No longer that sweet blonde girl who kept to herself, but Ansley the artist, Ansley the creative.
No one else in her family did what she did.No one else was particularly creative and her parents used to scratch their heads and say, where did she come from?Where did the passion come from?Ansley would just smile because she didn’t care… she didn’t think her love of painting had to come from anyone.Why couldn’t it just be her thing?Why couldn’t she just be herself?An original?
Cleaning her little brush, Ansley caught sight of the time.Almost noon.The rodeo would be starting soon.She had to get going.She didn’t want to miss the beginning, not sure when Rye would be competing, but she wanted to be there for everything.
*
He’d been inMarietta ten years ago for the seventy-fifth Copper Mountain Rodeo.He’d ended up in the hospital, wasting money instead of earning money.This time Rye was going to take home some big money, not just because he needed the money, but he needed the satisfaction.He needed the distraction.
